Go asks PBA for stronger Gilas

Go spent four days meeting with the basketball stakeholders before convincing Gilas Pilipinas benefactor Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP President Al Panlilio and Vargas to recall the withdrawal. (BGSMS) The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors may give in to a “plea” by Special Assistant to the President Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go to reinforce the National Team, to be represented by the core of the Rain or Shine squad with additional players from the other teams.

“That is what SAP Bong Go is requesting the league. A little bending over the possible fortification of the National Team—represented by Rain or Shine—and maybe, just maybe, several other additional players from the other teams,” a Daily Tribune source knowledgeable of the situation said.

The powerful boards of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will meet at 4 p.m. today to discuss the details of the country’s participation in the Asian Games set 18 August to 02 September in two main cities in Indonesia.

A Daily Tribune source confirmed top officials of the SBP and the PBA will convene in an emergency meeting at the Araneta Coliseum today, hours before Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best-of-Seven Championship Series between defending champion San Miguel Beer and Ginebra San Miguel.

The meeting is expected to led by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas, who is also the chairman of the PBA, before they announce the participation of the Philippine Team in the Asian Games.

The SBP had earlier withdrawn the National Team from the Asiad after 10 players of Gilas Pilipinas were suspended by the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) following the bench-clearing brawl between the Philippines and Australia on August 2 during the Fiba World Cup window at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

A league source said Special Assistant to the President Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go was the silent force that gravitated the leading stakeholders into coming up with the decision to recall the Gilas Pilipinas withdrawal from the Asian Games.

“SAP Bong Go was relentless in setting up meetings and calls to and fro the members of the SBP and the PBA Boards to make this happen,” the Daily Tribune source said.

Go spent four days meeting with the basketball stakeholders before convincing Gilas Pilipinas benefactor Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP President Al Panlilio and Vargas to recall the withdrawal.

“The lines were too busy between us all,” another source from the PBA said. “This would not have happened if not for SAP Go. The meeting this afternoon will be more about laying down the details of the team’s composition.”

The Philippines will no longer be represented by the core of the Talk ‘N Text squad.

Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and naturalized player Andray Blatche, who are all part of T’NT, were among those suspended by the Fiba.

Also meted with suspensions and fines were Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Jio Jalalon, Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright.

Gabe Norwood, June Mar Fajardo and Baser Amer were the only players remaining of the Gilas crew.

The PBA and the SBP, however, have earlier agreed to send the top squad to emerge after the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.

Rain or Shine will now represent the country in the Asian Games. The team will be coached by NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao.

Guiao coached the Painters from 2010-2016.